Saturday, January 6, 2018

2018: All the players/Saturn in Capricorn: the Good, the bad and the ugly

We will
experience some major planetary shifts in the New Year that will affect the
world and our personal lives.

First of
all, Saturn entered Capricorn on December 19, after a two and a half year treck
through the sign of Sagittarius. Saturn in Capricorn will be far different than
Saturn in Sagittarius.

The last
time Saturn transited Capricorn was November 13, 1988-February 8, 1991. Saturn
cycles repeat every 29.5 years.

Saturn in Capricorn-The good, the
bad, and the ugly

Saturn is
considered 'at home' in Capricorn making it very powerful. Capricorn is a no
frills, all business sign. When astrologers talk of'getting real,' with Saturn in Capricorn they
mean it. Capricorn has no time for frivolity here, and many things and
situations in our lives and the world will change over this two and a half year
cycle.

Capricorn
can denote great wealth or great deprivation, and such is the nature of Saturn
as well.

Those who
will fare best will be Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, and Pisces as Saturn will either
trine or sextile their Sun. That said, how well you personally fare will depend
on what Saturn will aspect in your own natal chart over the next two and a half
years. You could for example be a Virgo (trine to the Sun) but if your Mars is
in Cancer, Saturn will oppose it, bringing stress and challenges. So, all of
the planets in your chart matter and have to be taken into consideration to
know what Saturn in Capricorn will bring on a personal level.

Those who
will experience the most challenges will be the Cardinal signs-Aries, Libra,
Cancer and Capricorn as Saturn will square, oppose or conjunct their Sun. Then
again, if Saturn trines or sextiles other planets in their charts, they will
experience positive periods. It is typically a combination of both.

If you are a
Capricorn, Saturn last conjuncted your Sun 30 years ago. Saturn conjunct Sun is
typically a period of re-creating many things in your life. Saturnhas moved from your 12th house of endings:
the last house of the chart, and into your first house. Many situations that
occur at this time are life changing. Things begun under this transit can have
longevity for the future. Then again, as you are re-creating, some things can
end. It is typically not without stress but in the end you may feel as though
you have built something, or even purged your life of something that needed to
go.

My advice is
to go with the flow of the planets. Since Saturn in Capricorn is about building
something, it would be a positive step to decide what in life you would like to
personally build and focus on this. Set your intentions and stick to them. If
you do, there should be a Saturnian reward at the end of the cycle. It is a
time to access what is real and working in your life and discard the rest. It
is also a time to save money and prepare for the future.

Saturn
cycles affect the world and the collective as well. As Saturn in Capricorn
rules business, big business may gain
more power. This can be good and bad. While we need big business and corporate
jobs, big business as the Gods of the
Universe does not especially bode well for the average individual. Too much
control and power, whether through monopolies, politics, or taking away choice,
is a negative. As the FCC recently voted to take away net neutrality
regulations, this is one area Saturn in Capricorn may play out in a big way.

While some
large organizations are better than others the stronger they become, the more
power they exercise over individual life. For example if all the health
organizations and hospitals continue to merge, they acquire a great deal of
power over the individual and the health care markets. This translates into
less choice for the consumer, no competition, and more power over our
individual lives and the same goes for any other company or industry-this is
just one example, I could have just as easily used the phone and cable
companies.

As the 2017
tax plan has been passed and signed into law, the largest tax breaks will go to
big business and the top 1%. To those who say big business will hire more
people as a result of tax breaks is an unproven myth.

Most economists and non-partisan think tanks say it
this will not occur. It could actually contribute to a major recession or
depression in the future when Saturn
conjuncts Pluto. That said, as the bill was signed into law on a retrograde
Mercury, chances are it will be changed at a future date.

Saturn in
Capricorn will oppose Venus and Jupiter in the US natal chart at 3-5 degrees of
Cancer in 2018. Venus and Jupiter are the two financial planets. An opposition
from Saturn will not help the economy, and could in fact, help bring on a
recession. The first opposition occurs late January-February, 2018.

The last
time Saturn was in Capricorn, a recession occurred in the early 1990's, and we
saw a recession 30 years earlier in the early 1960's
as Saturn transited Capricorn then as well. This does not mean we will see a
full blown recession in 2018, but rather the seeds will be planted in 2018, for
the future and the rest of the Saturn in Capricorn cycle which will go through
mid-December of 2020.

Saturn
opposing Venus and Jupiter in the US chart will notbe limited to the financial arena. As these
two planets lie in the US chart's house of 'open enemies', we will see problems
arise in terms of relationships with other nations that could involve many
things including banking systems. This will certainly deal with more political
turmoil in 2018, as this transit is mirrored in Donald Trump's chart with
Saturn square his natal Neptune late January-February. Many hidden issues will
come out at this time,as well as in
March-April, July and October-November.

Venus rules
women, money and social values, and Jupiter rules money and wealth as well as foreign entities and people, institutional medicine, religion and law.

As Pluto is
also in Capricorn, we are headed toward the conjunct
of Saturn and Pluto in January 2020. This transit occurs every 33-38 years.
This is a harsh transit, and this will be a pivotal year in the US and on the
world stage. Saturn-Pluto in Capricorn will change the world on many levels.
Restrictive is the word that comes to mind, along with the potential of nuclear
incidents, major changes, authoritarian governments and rule, crime, big
business out of control, planned and organized tyranny at high levels,
recessions, banking issues and disasters and activities that are not light or pleasant.
Saturn-Pluto transits often coincide with harsh circumstances such as the
bombing of the World Trade Center (Saturn opposed Pluto) or the start of WW11
(Saturn squared Pluto). The seeds of what we plant now as a collective will
determine the future.

The positive
side of this transit can be seen in skill and advancement in math, science and
engineering, and profound understandings of deep subjects such as physics and
genetics. Pluto transits tear down to rebuild in a different way. Change is inevitable
with Pluto.

Jupiter in Scorpio

Jupiter is
in Scorpio until November 8, 2018 when it enters Sagittarius. Jupiter in this
sign rules money, taxes and debt and other people's money. As Scorpio related
to the 8th house, it also rules sex. Jupiter is where we see our gain and
advancement.

As Jupiter
entered Scorpio we saw the rise of the #MeToo movement.
This was a result of Jupiter in Scorpio and Mars and Venus in mutual
reception. As a result of this we could see positive changes in terms of sexual
abuse and harassment in the workplace and beyond.

Anything
begun with Jupiter in this sign will not be superficial. Jupiter is deep and
intense.

Jupiter will
trine Neptune several times in 2018. This is a positive/compassionate and
creative transit. In 2018 it will also sextile Pluto in Capricorn, as opposed
to the square we experienced in 2016/17. All of this is positive, and
will be far different from Jupiter's (2017) opposition to Uranus which is far
more unpredictable. Jupiter-Pluto transits can advance business and projects.
Jupiter will also trine the US natal Sun. This is positive as well and can only
be of benefit and help to the US.

Mercury retrogrades three times in
Fire Signs

Mercury retrograde
is not the time to get married, start new jobs and projects if you can avoid
it, and things seemingly go backward or are delayed.

Retrograde
Mercury dates:

March
23-April 15 (Aries)

July
27-August 19 (Leo)

November
17-December 6 (Sagittarius)

Uranus leaves Aries and moves into
Taurus

This is
another major planetary change. Uranus makes its first foray into Taurus, the
sign ruling the second house of money May 18-November 6, 2018. On November 7,
it returns to Aries for another 4 months. It will remain at 28-29 degrees of
Aries until it re-enters Taurus again March 5, 2019 where it will remain
through April of 2026.

We have seen
many changes with Uranus in Aries, specifically the Uranus-Pluto square, that recently finished in 2017.

Uranus in
Aries has seen much upheaval around the world. Aries is ruled by Mars, the God
of war and we have seen war, disaster and continual upheaval around the world
since it began its transit in May of 2010.

Uranus in
Taurus will be ruled by Venus, the planet of values, women and money. As Uranus
begins its first 6 month trek in this sign it trines Saturn in Capricorn and
this will be exact in August and within a 1-2 degree orb September-October.

This will be
a far better transit than the square we experienced 2013-16. Saturn trine
Uranus will be more peaceful and less disruptive, overall.

Uranus in
Taurus will dictate the future of money and world trade as it rules the second
house of money and its ruler is one of the financial planets.. The last time
Uranus transited this sign was April 1935-April 1942.

If you are a
1-2 degree Taurus Sun or ascendant, or if you have planets at 0-2 degrees of
Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius this transit will affect you personally in 2018. For
Taurus, Uranus will conjunct your Sun or ascendant and this can being sudden
changes in lifestyle or desire to do something different. For Scorpio this
creates an opposition, meaning you will experience unexpected issues that
originate with another party. For Leo and Aquarius this creates a square, which
typically brings unexpected issues and stress as Uranus stirs things up, and
often gets rid of what has lost its purpose or meaning, often suddenly.

While Uranus
spends 6 months in Taurus, it spends most of the other 6 months at the critical
29 degree of Aries. The 29th degree of Aries is considered the Anaretic degree and crisis oriented. Uranus
will be at this degree late April-Mid May, and again November 7-December 6, and
January , 2019-March 6, 2019 before moving into Taurus for the next 7 years.
This is a powerful degree, and we can expect to see crisis situations in the
world during these times.

Mars retrogrades June 26-August 27

The 'God of
War' appears to move backward (retrogrades) through the signs of Aquarius/
Capricorn and turns direct at 29 degrees of Capricorn nearly 2 months later.

Retrograde
Mars slows things down, tends to make people tired and angry, and more accident
prone, and prone to minor illnesses. As with all retrograde planets, this is a
karmic cycle, and many important situations in your life may occur now. Mars
rules, men, sex, our actions (which may be convoluted or indirect), guns, war
and aggression.

Many people
complain of being tired during a retrograde Mars. Actions may be misguided or
even lacking in good judgment by some.

Relationships
and projects may seem to go backward or change altogether.

Beginning a
relationship on a retrograde Mars, like starting a job at this time can be a
wild card. Often when Mars turns direct again the situation can change
completely.

Venus retrogrades October 5

Venus, the
planet ruling love, money and values retrogradesOctober 5-November 16 in Scorpio-Libra. It
will be very powerful when it enters Libra November 1-15. As Venus retrogrades in the sign of its detriment into the sign of its rulership, this retrograde period will be very powerful.

When Venus retrogrades love energy
becomes more intense and the drama often begins. It is a period when seemingly
fated events occur, sometimes appearing to be beyond the control of the parties
involved. Relationships can slow down or end. Sometimes those from our past can
reappear. It is a time of reviewing and re-accessing your love life.
Changes occur, and people can switch their affections and partners. The karma
(karma=the universal will, what will ultimately be) of the relationship will
play out during this period. Unresolved issues come to the forefront to be
resolved one way or another, but if a commitment exists with work it can become
stronger.

If Venus goes stationary direct
on a personal planet in your chart or your Sun you may well meet someone significant
at this time.

A retrograde Venus is not the time to get married, have
plastic surgery, buy art, jewelry or items ruled by Venus. Money matters
may be slowed down as well.

Venus retrogrades about every 18
months. The most important period is the stationary retrograde period
when Venus is starting to retrograde and the stationary direct period
when it is about to move forward again.

If you begin a new relationship on a
retrograde Venus the love energy may never be fully expressed or when Venus goes
direct the relationship may change or end.

Eclipses in 2018

We will
experience 5 eclipses in the New Year: three solar eclipses and one lunar.

Eclipses are like wildcards, and one of
the ways we learn how and what we need to change and evolve. An eclipse can
seem good or bad, depending on what it aspects in your personal chart, and
often an eclipse is dramatic, or reveals important information if it aspects a
significant point in your own chart/life. An eclipse often brings news
pertaining to life's biggest events. The energy of an eclipse can go for months
and in some cases years.

With an eclipse we have both endings
and beginnings. A solar eclipse is more like a new beginning, and it is always
a new moon. A lunar eclipse can being more news of endings and it is associated
with a full moon.

Almost always unexpected information
comes to light and at this time something may be eclipsed completely out of
your life, or into your life.

Eclipses can bring positive or negative events
depending on what it aspects in your personal chart.

Eclipses can clear away the
emotional baggage and re-set your emotional life, so to speak. Others may
surprise you in some way. Unexpected and unplanned events can occur.

The Moon may focus our attention on
relationships of all kinds, including the relationships among the collective-in
other words events in the world that can affect us all typically coincide at
the time of eclipses.

January 31, the first lunar eclipse of the year
falls at 11 degrees of Leo. Leo rules the 5th house of children, friends, and
love affairs, and many will be focused on this theme. This Moon opposes the Sun
and Venus. We could see issues and themes concerning love, money and women. The August 21st total eclipse of 2018
was also in Leo, and many people lined the streets, parks and other places and
turned the event into a party. Leo rules the 5th house of fun. Make the most of
this.

We could
hear news of royalty and this eclipse significantly affects the chart of the
45th US President. Many things will be revealed or come to light on this
eclipse, and the other four eclipses as they all make significant aspects in
his chart.

The second eclipse falls on February
15, and this is a
solar eclipse that falls at 27 degrees of Aquarius. February 16, 1999 was the
last time an eclipse occurred in this sign at the same degree.

Aquarius
rules the 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes, as well as groups and
organizations

Mercury
trines Uranus opening the door to new innovations and ways of thinking. But,
Mars squares Neptune and this is convoluted, and prone to misinformation, lies,
deception and lack of clarity. We could see severe weather related conditions
arise. This eclipse will also affect US politics and the US President, to name
only a few. Information will come to light, and it may be distorted.

The next solar eclipse occurs July 12, and falls at 20 degrees of Cancer.

This eclipse
will be volatile in many ways as the Sun and the Moon (eclipse) oppose Pluto.
Pluto ultimately brings change and transformation on some level, but the path
is not easy.

Many things
can be revealed at this time, and many things will end. As Cancer rules home
and family, issues may surface here, and on an emotional level.

On a world
level this transit can relate to situations involving power struggles, agendas,
and Pluto rules nuclear weapons. Pluto rules the bullies of the world who try
and force their will on others. The media will be highly significant at this
time.

A lunar eclipse occurs July 27, at 4 degrees of Aquarius. July 28,
1999 was the last time a solar eclipse occurred in this sign and at this
degree.

Aquarius
rules the 11th house of friends, groups and wishes and the collective.

This eclipse
is likely to be volatile as the Moon (eclipse) is conjunct Mars. Mars rules
young men, weapons, action, and police-military.

Moon-Mars
transits are often associated with accidents, anger or upset, and violence.

On the
upside as Mars rules our action you may find yourself very busy and if not
careful you could reach the point of burnout.

A solar eclipse occurs August 11, at 18 degrees of Leo. August 11,
1999 was the last time an eclipse occurred in this sign and at this degree.

Leo rules
the 5th house of friends, children, entertainment and love affairs and this
could be a good time to meet new people, entertain, and enjoy the summer.

Mars at 0
degrees of Aquarius is entering into a square to Uranus over the next few days
and the energy will be high. Sudden and unexpected events will occur, some out
of the blue. We could hear of explosions, explosive circumstances, violence and
police or military situations.

Some things
will end suddenly, opening the door to new beginnings.

Venus is
square Saturn and this can put a damper on love (in some cases) and some relationships
will end at this time. This could also affect money.

How these
eclipse affect you personally, as well as all of the other transits for 2018
depend on where they fall in your personal chart and what is being aspected.

Best wishes
for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018-May you succeed in all you endeavor!